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  • Hey all, just changed over the backend after 15 years I figured time to give it a bit of an update, its probably gonna be a bit weird for most of you and i am sure there is a few bugs to work out but it should kinda work the same as before... hopefully :)

cordless power tool sound-off

Both of the sets you posted are the same quality - I wouldn't be surprised if Porter didn't make the Craftsman versions. I know Stanley makes many of the Craftsman hand tools (I had the misfortune of having to work at Sears for a few years.)
 
do you really need a sawzall for "around the house (or set)" projects? a cordless circular saw? Most people would just set up a table and saw on the table... those tools look pretty cheap. Cordless drill / driver is useful of course and if you live in the city / concrete apartments, hammerdrill is a good idea.

Although Dewalt sells a 3in1 kit similar to those, I'd probably just buy the pieces individually, because like I said, I don't really see the utility of some of these devices cordless. They will never be as powerful and reliable as their plugged in counterparts.

Without exception, Dewalt is sort of the standard on construction sites, although if you need a heavy duty hole pig, Milwaukee makes good heavy duty right angle drills, if you need a hammer drill, Bosch makes some good heavy duty ones, and I personally bought myself a light duty Hilti hammer/drill/driver that I'm quite happy with.
 
A sawzaw is essential for any kind of small to large demolition project, kitchens, bathrooms, cutting nails off boards, cutting PVC in place. I use mine countless times on almost all my projects. Mine is a Milwaukee, plug in the wall style, keyless chuck... never let me down. Dropped the thing off ladders, never fails me. It has been one of the best birthday gifts to date.

My other hero tool is my 12 year old Dewalt 1/2" 18v cordless drill. It's a beast and keeps on ticking. I think I've even used it as a hammer a time or two. 1/2" chuck is essential if your going to use hole saw bits, mixing paddles, carbide tip bits, etc. I think it was about $200 new.

My dad has a Milwaukee cordless C-saw, he loves it. Most contractors I know have them too. I have an old Skill corded c-saw, and often I pull out my Milwaukee Scribe saw for that kind of work.

I have a Bosh table saw that runs on 110v, and for the size it does a great job, better than most of the portable 10" table saws, and it has a great rolling stand system. ~$500.
 
I'm a carpenter by trade and I can't suggest you buy any of that junk.
We seem to be living in a throw away society these days...use it a couple of times and then add it to landfill.
Buy some decent stuff like Makita, Bosch etc,.. last you or someone else a lifetime.
Cheap replica tools have killed my renovation business
 
+1 for Bosch cordless drill/drivers. IMHO with the possible exception of the little circular "trim saws" which can make a few short shallow cuts when you absolutely have to make something fit in the absence of AC, most other cordless tools are still woefully under-powered (although admittedly I have no experience with the expensive new LiOn options).

For everything else if you need a "matching set" stick to Bosch, otherwise I'd buy a Bosch jig-saw, a Milwaukee reciprocating saw, a worm-drive circular saw, a 2-horse or better plunge router, a belt sander and a palm sander, maybe a compound miter saw and the little Bosch jobsite table saw ... and some extra stingers.
 
christopher witzke said:
I've had bad luck with Makita... but my Bosch gear has been stellar.
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Makita make shit drills but their circular saws are the best IMO, so are their routers. Bosch make an excellent jigsaw and drill but shit circular saws, Metabo makes good drills...just my observations over 25yrs of using this stuff.

The RED scarlet will be my favorite tool in the box though
 
Also, as a fellow Coloradoan, stay away from the butane-powered nailguns, which generally don't work at elevations above 8,000 feet.
 
I've got a Makita Circular Saw thats lasted 12+ Years. Makita + Bosch are the Best.
 
Alex Carr said:
I've got a Makita Circular Saw thats lasted 12+ Years. Makita + Bosch are the Best.
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All well and good if you are into heavy use and want to spend the bucks, but Paul asked for an occasional use set - both the sets he proferred are more than adequate. I have a Craftsman cordless drill of that quality which I use maybe 5 times a year, its fine.
 
Wow, all really good stuff! Thanks everyone.
 
I'm no carpenter, but I love my Makita drill with the LIOn battery. It's really light but has tremendous torque. And the batteries charge in 15 minutes or so. When the one on the drill runs out I pull the charger out swap for the fresh one and by the time I'm done with even a small project the other battery is charged and ready to put away. Everytime I use it, I think, this is a really great tool.
 
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